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(877) 880-4090Some drivers couldn’t even tell you the make or model of their vehicles. Others can tell you the engine, transmission type, size of the wheels and the exact date they first started customizing it. Modifying vehicles has been a longstanding tradition for vehicle lovers around the world, but not all vehicle modifications are legal in America. What might pass in one state might also not pass in another.
Jurisdictions often make modifications illegal if they can create safety issues for the driver of the vehicle, other road users or law enforcement officers. Modifications that affect the roadworthiness and safety of the vehicle itself are almost always illegal.
Many of the modifications aimed at changing ride quality, speed, aesthetics and sounds could be illegal in your jurisdiction. So, always check the rules in your area before making changes to your vehicle. Failure to do so could lead to law enforcement ticketing you and seizing the vehicle.
Some people make changes to the mufflers or exhaust systems to create a throatier and more aggressive sound on the road. These make vehicles louder, which could violate noise ordinances in the area. Loud vehicles could also cause distractions or make it difficult for other road users to hear warning signals.
For example, blind persons often rely on sounds made by the stoplights to let them know whether it is safe enough to cross. Loud vehicle sounds can also startle children, cyclists and other road users. This can cause them to react unpredictably, which could result in injuries or death.
Monster trucks are great fun to see at the rodeo and car enthusiast events, but they have no place on the roads. Consequently, most jurisdictions have laws limiting how high owners can raise their bro trucks.
For example, a region could determine that vehicles can be no higher than 13 feet tall. It could also determine that vehicles cannot exceed the original factory height or lift by more than five inches. While few law enforcement officers know the precise stock lift of all vehicles, most can tell if a lifted vehicle compounded the issue in a car crash or caused it in the first place.
Most drivers view the suspension as a system for dampening imperfections on the road, especially when offroading in the countryside or falling into potholes in the city. However, suspensions are also crucial components of a vehicle’s safety system. In conjunction with tires and brakes, it forms the safety triangle.
Lifted vehicles and suspension changes affect the center of gravity of a vehicle. This can make it more likely to tip or roll, even in normal conditions. The onboard safety systems might still calculate safety maneuvers for the original configurations of the vehicle, which could worsen an already dangerous situation. Consequently, some suspension changes make a vehicle no longer road-worthy.
To be fair, most vehicles now have radar detectors inside. These come in the form of navigation systems on phones. Google and Waze, for instance, often tell you if police officers are ahead operating a speed trap. Most states prohibit the use of radar detection equipment in commercial vehicles, but others prohibit the use in passenger vehicles as well.
Radars, by themselves, likely do not cause accidents. However, drivers tend to install this so they can speed without getting caught by law enforcement officers. Consider that speeding is one of the top causes of crashes in America. It accounted for 26% of all traffic fatalities, in 2019.
Low-ride vehicles have had strong ties to gang activity in America for decades. Consequently, they tend to catch the eyes of law enforcement officers quite easily. Most jurisdictions have some regulations in place about how low vehicles can ride, especially when rubbing becomes an issue. When the tires begin to rub, the likelihood of them failing and causing an accident becomes high.
People with low-ride vehicles find ways around this by installing hydraulics. However, several jurisdictions restrict the use of hydraulics in motion. Air suspension might present a better alternative. However, if the owner fails to calibrate it properly, the air suspension could cause the vehicle to become unsafe when going over bumps or taking sharp turns.
Americans love their trucks. Some love them so much that the sight of bicycles, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles seem to fill them with rage or the drive to commit mischief. In September 2021, one such incident ended in tragedy when a teenager struck and hit several cyclists while rolling coal.
Despite high gas and diesel prices, many truck owners modify their vehicles to burn even more fuel to roll coal. This emits black smoke at other vehicles or road users, which can completely disorient them or cause poor visibility.
As is the case with the September 2021 incident, it can also lead to striking the intended victims of the coal rolling. Not surprisingly, the practice and the modification are illegal in several jurisdictions. Since the incident, more jurisdictions are beefing up laws regarding this.
Owners of dark vehicles often like to add dark light casings to the headlights and taillights to create a more uniform look. While it might look cool, it also reduces the visibility of the vehicle, even when the lights are on. This worsens as the lights get older and lose some of their brightness. Consequently, these vehicles often face a higher risk of getting rear-ended.
Illegality varies across jurisdictions. When vehicles need safety inspections, a strict inspector might require the removal of the dark casings. Some police officers might even write a ticket if local laws make it possible for them to do so.
Law enforcement officers tend to view modified vehicles differently than non-modified vehicles. This often creates biases at the scene of a crash that could pass on into the police report. For example, imagine a modified sports car with turbo colliding with an old minivan. Even if the minivan was the speeder, the police officer is unlikely to believe that story without hard proof.
Because of this, when modified vehicles end up in a car crash, law enforcement officers already start to determine whether modifications led to the crash. Did neon lights distract other drivers? Did LED lights in reflective casings blind oncoming traffic? Even if the vehicle never collides with anything else on the street, it could become named as a party to the accident.
Insurance companies also often have some reluctance about insuring extensively modified vehicles. Determining the value and confirming safety is a much more difficult process. Consequently, drivers often do not inform insurance companies of the modifications. In some cases, this could void the policy, so keep that in mind.
At Fielding Law, our auto accident attorneys represent injured parties. We fight hard for them to get the compensation they deserve from at-fault parties, negligent persons and insurance companies. Ideally, we resolve issues privately through negotiations outside of court. However, when insurance companies refuse to cooperate, we advocate for your preferred outcomes in court.
We provide big-firm knowledge in a small-firm package and offer personalized service and compassion. If you need to determine whether you have a case at all, we can help with a free case evaluation. No one should pay to determine whether they can receive compensation. Get started with Fielding Law today.